Be Still and Know

Yin yoga is a slower-paced yoga, designed to go deep into the fascia to release tension, more than just beneath the surface, that has accumulated due to stress or trauma, whether it be emotional, mental, or physical. 

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 

Psalm 46:10 ESV

Such a foreign and difficult concept in this “To Go” culture. This can be a very trying thing for people.

And yet, the Creator of the Universe asks us to be still and know. 

This is one reason yin is so important because it helps us to do just that in today’s society. I’m not just talking about yin yoga but that is important too; I’m meaning finding some yin in your life. All of that busyness is very yang and we need to balance it out with some yin. 

Too much of anything is a bad thing. If your life is too yin, you become stagnant or stale. If your life is too chaotic, you become burnt out. 

Although you do see some individuals who have too much yin in their life, I believe you see more people who have too much yang in their life. 

Why do I believe this? Look around you. There are drive-thru restaurants everywhere. There are countless drive-thru restaurants. Banks have drive-thrus. Drive-thrus at the pharmacy. There’s a drive-thru wedding chapel in Las Vegas. I’ve even seen a drive-thru tobacco store and a drive-thru bar. Not to mention, nowadays you can have someone grocery shop for you and deliver to either your car or right to your doorstep. 

All of it points to a yang culture. It’s unhealthy. Our culture is all “go go go”, which leads to burnout, not to mention increased stress on the body, and, you guessed it, illness. 

People need rest to reset. Just as yin yoga goes beneath surface tension, rest and being still also go beyond the physical. As long as you’re “on the go,” you’re only living on the surface. Why do you think deep meditation takes being still and focusing on one thing rather than multiple things at once?

The Bible teaches us God rested on the seventh day. Not because He was tired, but because He wants to show us how important it is to rest. At least, that’s what I believe. If it was important for Jesus to rest and take a step away to spend time with His Father while He walked this Earth, why wouldn’t it be just as important for us?

I am reminded of my mom’s favorite song “In the Garden”. It’s such a sweet song. It talks about spending time with Jesus, walking with Him. Walking. Not running. When was the last time you saw a gardener rushing? What happens when we rush? We make mistakes. 

A gardener has to be careful. Meticulous, even, at times. Gardening is normally done at a slower pace. In life, a rushed and chaotic pace is a breeding ground for anxiety, whereas a slower, intentional pace, walked alongside Jesus, is a breeding ground for peace. That precious time spent with Jesus should not be rushed or forced if it is to be real quality time with Him, whether on the mat or off.

There’s a devotional I’ve done on the YouVersion Bible app several times titled “Choosing the Meaningful Over the Urgent.” There’s a reason I’ve returned to it. We all need a reminder from time to time. A reminder that the current focus in our lives may need to be readjusted.

Things that are truly consequential in life are rarely urgent and things that are urgent are rarely important, with a few exemptions of course. Think for a minute about what is actually important to you, in your life. Now, think about what feels urgent right now. Does any of it match up between the two lists?

If you go back to verse Psalm 46:1, it gives a little more context for verse 10. God is our strength and refuge, that’s why we can be still. The other verse prior to Psalm 46:10 describes how powerful our God is and because He is on our side (see Romans 8:31), we can be still and know. Know He has things under control, though we may not see it now (see 1 Cor. 13:12). We can place our trust in Him.

Peace is found in the garden with Jesus. Be still. And know.